Work-locating apparatus



Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

pairs!) STATES 1,888,881 PATENT "OFFICE...

' CHARLES w. LnoK, or NEWARK, n w JEasEY, ssronon T0 GENERAL MOTORS 'coE- rona rron, OF DETROIT, error-risen, A COB1ORATIQN OF DELAWARE.

WORK-LOCATING APPARATUS. v

I Application filed May 16, 1924. Serial No. 713,742.

This invention relates to work locating and is herein illustrated as embodied in apparatus for locating aocup shaped work piece in a die for a drawing operation. I

A hollow sleeveis sometimes formed from a flat disc by first drawing the latter into the form of a shallow cup, subsequently deepening the latter by additional drawing operations, and then-cutting off the bottom. It frequently happens that, during the second, or later, drawing operations, a cup will tilt or rock in its die, with a ball and socket action, so that the drawing tool or plunger does not strike the center, and an imperfect piece results. This is particu larly likely to happen when the cup is shallow so that the plunger, by striking a surface which is approximately spherical, has no tendency to straighten the workpiece. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus for locating work pieces of this general character so that better work will he obtained. 7

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of the character indicated, my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, the figure is a vertical section of the apparatus showing a cupped work-piece located in a die prior to the operation of a drawing tool.

The numeral 2 indicates the die surface of a die block supported over an apertured bolster plate 4'. A work-piece, such as W, is placed in this die with its concave side facing a drawing-tool, herein shown as a cylindrical plunger 6, the end portion of which is tapered and terminates in a substantially flat work engaging end ,8. The plunger is reciprocable in line withthe axis of the die. its upper end 10 being threaded or otherwise adapted for attachment to a reciprocating member on a punch press or the like. i

When a work piece, such as W, has a more or less spherical surface, and is placed in such a die, it has a tendency to tilt or rock therein, the ends, of its greatest diameter only, contacting with the die surface and allowing the piece to tilt on these points. In the absence of some locating apparatus, the plunger will thereafter engage the piece" with no tendency to straighten it, as would be the case were the bottom of the cupflat.

. Accordingly, a heavy weight in the form of a: plate 12 is slidably mounted on the plunger and has a ring shaped portion 14: of a size-capable of entering the die and arranged to engage the rim of. the work piece W prior to theaction of the plunger. The under surface of the ring portion is fiat and held at right angles to the axis ofthe die and plungerso that the work piece is straightened and correctly located for draw- 1 ing. I The ring 14 may be integral with or separate from the plate 12, but. when the work piece lV projects above the level of the die, the under surface of the plate 12 may be. perfectly flat. The ring 14:, however, allows the weight to act on the end of the work piecev even'if the latter is a little below the top of the die and before and even after the drawing operation has commenced.

The plate 12 has a lost motion connection with the plunger. For this purpose, the

'plungerhas a collar 16 on which rests an apertured bar 18, the ends of which are connected by flexible means, such as chains 20, with screws 22 attached to opposite sides of the suspended plate 12. The chains are ofsuch length that the plate 12 is suspended near the end of theplunger so that the plate will engage the WOIk piece before the plunger can engage the latter. The work piece is accordingly straightened and the plunger will descend through the plate as i the latterrests on the work piece,or on the die when the work piece is drawn down into it. lnthis operation, the chains become slack and, when the plunger is later ele vated through the plate, the slack is taken up and the plate lifted foroperation on anotherpicce. Under some conditions the plate may also act as a stripper.'.

Although a certain form of die has been selected for illustrative purposes, itis apparent that the invention, in its broader aspects, is susceptible of usewith other work receiving means or with tools other than a metal drawing tool.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for locating a' curved piece of work in a die, a plunger,a die to receive the piece of Work, a work locating plate slidable on the plunger, and aflexiblewconnection between the plate and th plunger; substantially asdescribed, 7

- the plunger, a plate mounted to slide on the plunger, a bar carried by the plunger,

and flexible connections between opposite piece oil? WVOI'lI in a die, a

.R Mr:

sides of the bar and the ends substantially as described.

4. In apparatus for locating a curved receive the piece of Work to beacted on by the plunger, a plate mounted to slide on the plunger, a bar carried by the plunger, and flexible connections between opposite sides of the bar and the ends of the plate, and a ring on the plate to engage the rim of the wvork piece; substantially as described' In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature. 8

CHARLES W. LE

of the plate; i

plunger, a die to 

